The Lusitania was torpedoed 100 years ago today at 15.10 German time and sank in twenty minutes with the loss of 1,198 lives including 138 Americans. Although only one torpedo was used according to the German account there were two massive explosions. There are still questions as to the cause.
This event almost caused the Americans to enter the war but the Germans promised to give merchant vessels warning of impending attacks and they held off. It was only in 1917, when this policy was reversed, that America finally declared war.
This event almost caused the Americans to enter the war but the Germans promised to give merchant vessels warning of impending attacks and they held off. It was only in 1917, when this policy was reversed, that America finally declared war.
